Monday- Beginnings

Covenant Goes to Kenya 2011 Nairobi, Charlotte Fri 09 Sep - Fri 23 Sep Met at airport at 11:30. Left late, after 4 hours in the Charlotte airport. We made our other connections on time. Day 1 Charlotte Friday, September 9, 2011 Day 2 - Travel Nairobi Saturday, September 10, 2011 Wow- long day of travel. I recommend getting a good nights sleep the night before departure and I didn't. Since I didn't sleep much, if at all, last night, now I'm really really tired. I don't think I will have trouble sleeping tonight! We arrived in Amsterdam this morning and had a layover of three hours, perfect for. Stretching legs between the back to back long flights. While sitting with Bill Keith, I learned that he is excellent with geography. He kindly increased our Stack the Countries score, something we have a hard time doing. We flew over the Sahara Desert today. It reminded me of the moon, with craters and barrenness as far as one can see. Our flight will land in Nairobi in two hours and the surprises will begin! It was a full 30 hours door-to-door travel time. It was midnight here when We went to bed. It had been al ost three nights of little, if any, sleep! Day 3 - Surprise! Sunday, September 11, 2011 This morning, the group gathered for breakfast then headed to A church service near, or on,the campus of the Universally of Nairobi. Since it was dark when we arrived, morning light brought our first glimpse of our settings. We are staying at a hospital guest house, which, by any traveling standards is acceptable, but by mission trip standards is downright luxurious (especially given the fact that my last mission trip required a lesson on how to hang a hammock). At the church, We attended the second of three services, all of which were packed with a mixture of young professionals, students, and white people. The service was upbeat, fast paced and contemporary. In fact, one could have easily assumed this service was located in the states. There were microphones, music with the lyrics displayed on Large screens, video camera, sound technicians, and the announcements were via animated video. Fun, welcoming, and the perfect start to this trip. Following the service, we headed to the Yaya market and mall, where we had lunch. Ate at a bakery so it was fortunate that I had packed a gluten free pb&j. Our guest house is refrigerating my bread. I was attacked in the market by vendors, one in particular, using every sales tactic known to man. My group didn't even come rescue me. I think I saw them laughing! Anyway, the stone hippo with which I left cost no schillings, but I paid with my time! afterwards, we walked a block or two to New Life Homes Ministry, an amazing place founded by Alice and Clive that rescues near death babies, treats them as their own with medical care and love, then finds homes for adoption. They told us their story, which I don't have time to relay now, but is profoundly moving. They now have multiple sites and house over 160 babies, offer day schools and feed 2000 children everyday. Amazing people. Next, we we're given a tour and encouraged to play with and hold the babies. It was such a warm, happy place it's easy to forget that they were left for dead in ditches by their mothers- just a few months or weeks ago. More info to come- family, I've got the perfect idea for the yearly group extended Christmas gift! We then drove to The Arc, a permanent home for children from the orphanage who will, most likely, never be adopted. Aging from 5 to 10, there are about 10 children who live here. All were most polite and welcoming, greeting us with personal introductions, tours and demonstrations of their cloth napkin folding skills. Hope and Connor, you've got a lot to learn! Their is one room for the girls and another for the boys. All toys were put away, nothing on the floors. School clothes for tomorrow were neatly laid out, everyone was obedient and no one fussed! And, they didn't even know we were coming! It was oblivious that the boys craved a father figure, as they latched on to the men in our group and played heartily! Returned for dinner and devotions. Glad I brought lots of food, as the meals served at our hostel are pasta, fried, or have breading. Today was wonderful, the perfect way to start this trip after two days of travel. It would have been hard to work on construction today. Tomorrow we head to a village to work on an eighth grade classroom. The medical team wil begin their clinic at the site of the school. Abby and I led tonight's devotion :surprise Devotion Read surprise scripture Ellen read fill a bucket Share surprise stories Ellen and Abby Groups of 3-4 share surprise story from life or today Share with large group Gensis 18 9-15 discuss that sup roses often come out of what we initially feel is a negative experience. Ask what about your surprise What were your feelings Write letter about expectations to self. Abby will mail in a month or two. Close with prayer Dear lord, Thank you for safe travels. Thank you for this place of surprises and the Marys and Clives of the world. Thank you for the blessings that most often come from devastating events. Thank you for invisible buckets, the opportunity to fill others buckets with happiness and joy, and the reward of filling our own buckets. Through the element of surprise, help us to open our hearts to your plan, because nothing is impossible through you. Day 4 - Beginnings Nairobi Monday, September 12, 2011 Today we visited two schools that our host missionary Irma started a few years ago. The schools were located near each other, but very far from here- the drive was about two hours. Once near the spot, we became lost when Irma couldn't find the turn off from the main road. There was lots of construction, as the road is being made into a 4-6 lane super highway, and nothing seemed the same as she remembered. Once we finally arrived at the first school site, the children saw us entering through the gates and scattered to their classes. My first image at this school was a run mud barren playground with a few children squatting near a bucket of water, washing their hands after using the outhouse, as a skin-and-bones dog watched. We were enthusiastically greeted by the headmaster and a member of the Presbyterian Church which shares the site. The classrooms were lined up, sitting on a cement slab with walls of corrugated metal. Upon entering the first class, full of 30 third graders crammed into a divided room the size of Connor's room, I was struck by the obedience, politeness, enthuasium of the teachers and apparent happiness of the children. Before even entering the classes our shoes were caked with an inch of mud, which tracked into each room behind us. The children neatly removed their shoes and placed them on one wall, revealing socks with tapping holes. Teachers had the children show off their English skills by reciting phrases, words and songs for us. With benches for seats and bare wooden desks for tables, no electricity or supplies, the school reminded me of images from the turn of the century before Mann revolutionized education. First, I was overcome with sadness for what these children did not have- sweaters without holes, pencils, posters, books - every most basic supply that we demand is needed for education. I couldn't believe the large class sizes and still, repetitious, auditory learning. I was angry at Kenyan government for allowing their schools to function like this. That's when I realized that this was no public school. These fortunate children have the pleasure of attending this fine and most desirable private school in the village. Their parents must pay for the feeding program and are asked to buy uniforms. Most children walk 2.5 miles one way, taking about an hour. On Thursday, we will walk this walk with a school child. There are two huge advantages to this private school over public. First, class sizes max at 30 in Irma's schools where there are 80-90 students per class in public schools. Secondly, children a taught English in Irma's schools, but not in public (I'm assuming instruction is in Swahili). Knowing English is the only way out of their current poverty cycle. Primary School is important. Children are given a test in 7th grade. Scores determine who goes on to high school, but families still must be able to pay the tuition. What's really sad is not what's not happening inside the school yard, but what happens outside. After our visit, I wondered outside to find a little boy, who looked to be about 9 or 10 peering in through the holes in the fence. With no uniform or shoes, it was clear he wasn't going to school today, and most likely never. Even public school is not free. Each school had one lone metal slide, which was closed today due to the mud. One class had old tires stacked in the corner, presumably as outside toys. One room had three paint cans on a shelf- the entire contents of the art supply closet. The bareness of the rooms was unmistakable. There were not enough supplies in either school worth mentioning. But was was overflowing was the happiness of these children. They live completely off the grid, with no electricity at home or school. Yet they are happier than many children I know who have everything their heart desires- except contentment. They seem completely content. Makes me wonder who is the most free..... It was a wonderful day and I'm so blessed to be here! Missing my friends and family! Tomorrow begins our first day of construction at Ringuiti school.